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Gender: Feminine (1/2)

French: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 8.5.2

Feminine Singular Nouns

Here are some common feminine noun endings that will help you to know that the noun needs 'la' or 'une' before it. Generally, most feminine nouns end in 'e'. There are a few exceptions to every ending.

Nouns ending in 'e + double consonant (e.g. ll) + e'

Nouns ending in 'e + double consonant (e.g. ll) + e'

  • La femme - the women.
  • La terre - the earth.
  • La chaussette - the sock.
  • La tristesse - the sadness.
  • There is only one exception:
    • Le squelette - the skeleton.
Nouns ending in 'ace'

Nouns ending in 'ace'

  • La face - the front.
  • La glace 🍦 - the ice cream .
  • La place - the square, the seat.
Nouns that end in 'tion'

Nouns that end in 'tion'

  • La situation - the situation.
  • La nation - the nation.
  • L'éducation - the education.
  • La question - the question
  • There are a lot of words in French that end in 'tion' and only one exception:
  • Le bastion - the bastion, stronghold.
  • Be careful with words that just end in ion. These are usually masculine.
Nouns that end in 'sion'

Nouns that end in 'sion'

  • La passion - the passion.
  • La répression - the represion.
  • L'émission - the program.
  • La pression - the pressure.
Nouns that end in 'ie'

Nouns that end in 'ie'

  • L'éclaircie - bright spell.
  • La pluie - the rain.
  • La sortie - the exit.
  • La soie - the silk.
  • La vie - life.

Feminine Singular Nouns

Here are some common feminine noun endings that will help you to know that the noun needs 'la' or 'une' before it. Generally, most feminine nouns end in 'e'. There are a few exceptions to every ending.

Nouns ending in 'ence'

Nouns ending in 'ence'

  • La patience - patience.
  • La conscience - conscience.
  • L'agence - the agency.
  • L'essence - petrol.
  • There is only one exception:
    • Le silence - the silence.
Nouns ending in 'ance'

Nouns ending in 'ance'

  • La chance - luck.
  • La naissance - birth.
  • La connaissance - knowledge.
  • Les vacances - holiday
  • Although it has an 's' 'danse' in French is feminine.
    • La danse - the danse
Nouns that end in 'ée'

Nouns that end in 'ée'

  • L'idée - the idea.
  • L'année - the year.
  • La journée - the day.
  • L'entrée - the entry.
  • There are two common exceptions:
  • Le lycée - the school.
  • Le musée - the museum.
Nouns that end in 'aine'

Nouns that end in 'aine'

  • 'aine':
  • Une quinzaine - a fortnight.
  • Une centaine - a hundred.
  • Une douzaine - a dozen.
  • Une semaine - a week.
Nouns that end in 'ine'

Nouns that end in 'ine'

  • 'ine':
  • La cousine - cousin.
  • La poitrine - chest.
  • La peine - the bother.
  • La piscine - the pool.
  • An exception is:
  • Un magazine - a magazine.
Nouns that end in 'que'

Nouns that end in 'que'

  • La musique - the music.
  • La bibliothèque - the library.
  • L'informatique - IT.
  • Some exceptions are:
    • Le risque - the risk.
    • Le plastique - plastic.

Test yourself on Gender: Feminine (1/2)

  • How do you say 'a sock' in French?

  • How do you say 'the idea' in French?

  • Which one of these is NOT feminine?

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